High Immunization Coverage in Children as One of the Major Achievements for the Health System in Iran

Dear Editor-in-chief, Vaccination considered as one of the most cost-effective health interventions worldwide through prevention and control of many serious childhood diseases (1). It is estimated global coverage of Dose 3 of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTP3) among children one year old has been 86% in 2014 (by range from 77% to 96% in African Region and Western Pacific Region; respectively) (2). Globally in 2014, it is estimated about 18.7 million infants were not receive routine immunization services such as DTP3 vaccine. More than 60% of these children were living in 10 undeveloped countries (3). Coverage rate the third dose of DTP vaccine (DTP3) in at the age of 12 months is a key indicator of National Immunization Programme (NIP) performance; because it reflects completion of the basic infant immunization schedule and coverage with other vaccines (2). In this study we aimed to examine status of immunization coverage in Iran compared to other countries in the world during 1980-2015.